Tourism Malaysia starts campaign to promote RP

Recognizing the potential of the Philippines as one of the biggest markets for tourism in Malaysia, key government players of the Tourism Malaysia has kicked off its aggressive marketing promotions of the Philippines.

Tourism Malaysia executives led by its deputy director general Mirza Mohammad Taiyab are here in the country for a seven-day Tourism Malaysia Roadshow, which started last July 10 and will run until the 17th. The team of both government and private sector tourism players from Malaysia are here in Cebu for a whole seminar and exhibition to promote Malaysia to Cebu.

"We have seen an increasing number of Filipinos considering Malaysia as their vacation or leisure destination. We are starting our active promotional efforts to promote our country in the Philippines,' said Taiyab in his speech before the Cebu tourism players yesterday.

With the entry of increased budget airlines to the Philippines, that opened cheaper airfare cost to Malaysia, Taiyab said more and more Filipinos have visited Malaysia in the recent months.

Malaysia, which carries its branding promotion of "Truly Asia" destination, is the second largest tourism receiving country in Asia, next to China.

Last year, Malaysia posted total tourist arrivals of 15.7 million. It targets to increase the total arrival this year by 10 percent.

Filipino arrivals to Malaysia posted an improvement of 59 percent last year with a total of 143,799 Filipinos went to enjoy the tourism offerings of the neighbor country. From January to April of this year, there were a total of 50,317 Filipinos visited Malaysia.

Compared to its other neighboring countries in Asia, Filipino arrivals to Malaysia are so far the highest among Asian visitors, he said.

According to Taiyab Filipino travelers gained significant attention from the Malaysian tourism players as they are considered as one of good tourism spenders just like the Europeans, and Americans.

Despite the "perceived" economic struggle in the Philippines, Filipinos' length of stay as tourists is comparable to that of Americans and Europeans.

With the declining cost of traveling to Malaysia from the Philippines for as low as US$150 (total package including accommodation, transfer, among others) more and more Filipinos are able to take their vacation outside of the country, Taiyab said.

The Malaysian tourism executive who represented Datuk Dr. Leo Michael Toyad, Minister of Tourism in Malaysia, admitted that in the past, Malaysia was looking at the Philippines' success in attracting visitors.

"When we started in 1982 [being aggressive in tourism industry] we were learning from the Philippines," Taiyab admitted. Now, Malaysia is enjoying 15 million tourist arrivals, while Philippines is hitting to achieve 5 million arrivals in the next five years.

Just like the Philippines, Malaysia is showcasing medical tourism, spa tourism, Education tourism, honeymoon market, sports tourism, beach and mountain resorts, shopping, among others.

There are at least three airlines offering direct flights to Malaysia, its flag carrier the Malaysian Airlines, budget airline-Air Asia, and Phoenix Airways.

In Cebu, Malaysian Airlines is flying direct to Malaysia, two times a week.